Nova Southeastern University

It took 10 years to finish my EdD in ITDE. I took time out, twice, to care for 2 terminally ill family members at different times. I maxed out student loans, I was threatened with being dropped because I was taking too long. I had to quit and re-enter the program to prevent this and with no student loans I had to pay over $15K out of pocket. The Bursar is very strict with payment agreements and pretty heartless. I was fortunate to find someone who helped as much as she could. Who you know is essential, you cannot get through the hurdles without help. NSU is brutal on compassion. I went through 1 committee chair who refused to keep our appointment at the Summer Institute because she was a diva who wanted to have dinner with her friends. I flew into Orlando for one evening only just to meet with her from a business trip in Montreal and was headed home to South Florida. There was nothing I could do but go home, I had also paid for the Summer Institute and got nothing for it. My new chair was totally a godsend. She helped my get through despite many more trials, like 2 car accidents and relocating twice. Getting to the finish line was a miracle. I learned only 2% of the country succeed in doctorate programs. As for NSU, if I knew beforehand of the high cost, the lack in student services and the capitalist mentality, I would have chosen another institution. The online doctorate program was my saving grace though. If you can get past all the administrative hurdles. ITDE is the most difficult program to succeed in. I have battle scars, PTSD, depression, I cry a lot because the experience was so difficult. I left the default ratings, it was too difficult to assess.

I completed all the ITDE coursework 3 years ago. For the next 2 years I paid the fee each semester to stay in the program and work on the dissertation (concept paper, proposal, and final paper). The other committee members are never on the same page with the department head who is also on all ITDE committees. Some will like what you have and he will generally not. After 3 years and I'll admit, a BAD advisor, then a GREAT replacement advisor I passed the concept paper. Then for a few years of rewrites I never could get a proposal passed. The head of ITDE always had multiple complaints. My advisor, who is the head would never take up for me and step on the toes of the ITDE head. She would like my paper enough to propose it but would not push it through. Anyway, I spoke with upper administration and they said that the ITDE head was the problem with SO FEW graduates from the ITDE EdD program. They said that the other programs more than made up for the lack of graduates in that program. This does NOT help mme or the other ITDE students. I know many ITDE students in the same boat as I. Just a warning. Find out what you can about this process in ANY school. Stay away from ITDE at NSU while this guy is still around.